Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
(Zephaniah 3:1-2.9-13;
Matthew 21:29-32)
A famous poem tells
the story of an ancient emperor.
Remnants of his statue is found in the desert giving his now unknown
name, “Ozymandias” (the name of the poem as well). His epithet ironically reads that he is “King
of Kings.” The poem means to warn people
not to think too much of themselves. Yet
they still do. Most people want their
way whenever they can get it. They want
to think of themselves as “King of Kings” at least in their little corner of
the world.
The readings today
point to a better, more honest way to live.
In the first the Zephaniah prophesizes of the people whom God will allow
to live in Israel. They will be humble
and holy. Because they do no wrong, they
can take refuge in God. In the gospel
Jesus tells the leaders of Jerusalem that public sinners more likely will be
heirs to this promise than they. He
means to chastise people of power for lording it over the poor.
We should keep in mind
what Christmas means. God is humbling
Himself to live as a human. Indeed, he
lives as the simplest of humans. He has
no armory or treasury. He helps the poor
and lame. To live the spirit of
Christmas we must imitate the humility of Jesus.
